Nightmare Mythos

"Outside! Oh, how I missed this sensation! The Academy grounds you've been is too cramped for me,"

Cedeit who seldom talked to Cesar while they were inside the Academy, started talking to him again almost all the time. It seemed the Academy bored the Nightmare.

Afraid that talking to him now in the real world would make Arnold suspicious as to why he was talking through the air, Cesar remained quiet before he started focusing on himself.

Tak—!

Currently still in their vehicle as it crossed into a bump, Cesar closed his eyes and imagined the white space known as Subconsciousness.

After a whole minute of putting his focus on it, Cesar transferred to his own Subconsciousness and met the eyeball, Cedeit.

"What do you need me for?"

Cedeit asked in a roundabout way even though the Nightmare was already aware of what Cesar needed to be here in the space.

The Nightmare's suspicions became true as Cesar then asked.

"There's a nearby terrain that is highly concentrated with Soul. Well, it was essence for them but you told me there's a connection between the two. We're going to pass it and tell me if a Soul Scholar is currently resting at it. Can you even do it?"

Cedeit contemplated for a bit, the eye seemed to be pondering the answer before nodding once, "I can do that. Since we're all done in here, I want to tell you another thing,"

Cedeit paused as their previous problem seemed to already have a solution as he added, "Now, in the meantime, I advise you to carefully have a proper consumption of using your essence. You're just prolonging the inevitable and it will not be long till you actually break down,"

Cesar took a mouthful of gulp as he voiced out, "It's that bad, huh,"

Cedeit didn't sugarcoat and make things worse as he added more, "Yes, it's that bad. So I'm very happy that you're looking through it. But then again, don't expect that this is going to be easy. You'll have to talk to a creature you loathed and make a deal with it,"

Cesar scratched his head and waved his hand, "Yeah, yeah. I'm aware. You've already informed me about this beforehand. Just guide me when it comes to that point,"

Cedeit rolled around the white space before Cesar left the white space, and returned to the vehicle without garnering any suspicions from Arnold. He glanced to the side and saw that the Headmaster of the Academy was motionless and looking through the window.

The driver of their vehicle then voiced out after a few minutes, "Sir, we need to take a gas. We'll be stopping at the Flora City in a bit,"

Arnold gestured with a nod as he retorted, "All right. And may I ask how long till we made our way to the Langston Bridge?"

The driver tilted his head and replied, "It will take a day if we continue with our current pace. Then we would need a few more days to arrive at Dawnbreaker,"

Arnold nodded before casting a glance at Cesar, "That's your cue. Whatever you intend to do here, you should do it now,"

Cesar sat frozen at first before letting out a chuckle, "Nothing really gets passed through you, huh,"

That's right.

Amongst the recommendations that were given to him where the concentration of essences was high, Flora City was one of the choices. He directly heard this information from Spencer, and probably the old man directly reported to Arnold, just like the rest of his teachers who are teaching him.

Arnold chuckled before saying, "Get down now. Carry a few artifacts from your possessions in case something bad happens,"

Cesar wasn't really planning on carrying anything that is related to the usage of one's essence but he had to agree with Arnold.

Grabbing the case underneath his seat, Cesar opened the locks and grabbed the Flexible Dagger and Librarian's Key. Next, he put on a robe that was prepared beforehand by Arnold and wore it.

"Where can I meet you?"

Arnold paused, "We're stopping at an inn owned by the Academy. It's where anyone who belongs to the Academy can freely accommodate and is only available to us. Right, do remember you only have a day,"

"Okay,"

Cesar covered his face with a robe before exiting the vehicle to begin his search for Soul Scholar.

As he went down to their vehicle and saw it leaving through the road, Cesar couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of this city just like any other city he had seen from his entire life.

The city, as one would expect, is very crowded. Towering buildings with very artistic designs spread across the street. Cesar saw families walking around the area, bright smiles across their faces. Vendors and merchants were trying to sell their products to passersby.

Located in a mountainside, feeling the cold breeze of air passing through the holes of his clothes, Cesar began his search while following the instructions he was receiving from Cedeit inside his head.

"The concentration of the essence is located at the edge of the mountain. Feel it yourself." Cedeit guided Cesar before adding, "Watch out for any suspicious person that might watch you."

"I know…"

Muttering under his breath, Cesar slowly made his way to the edge of the mountainside of Flora City. Even though there's a wall that covers the edge which has been built for people with suicidal thoughts, Cesar was determined to see the end of his search.

Hiding through the eyes that might've tried being aware of his presence, Cesar avoided those small things before eventually coming to his destination.

Whoosh—!

Feeling the intensity of the cool air on the edge of the mountainside, Cesar's gaze fell below. At first, he didn't feel this sensation as Cedeit was there to guide him but it changed now.

There was something further below the mountainside that was attracting Cesar to it.

"Do you know what is waiting for us below?"

Cedeit scoffed, "Obviously not. But haven't you been preparing for something like this? I know you're confident so let's just go see and solve your problem,"

Cesar was hesitant for a moment before a sigh escaped his lips. The next thing he did, he jumped towards the edge of the mountainside.